Vicoregio 36 – Three Classic Italian Reds, Pt 2 – Sangiovese

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana

Vicoregio 36

Vicoregio 36 – Three Classic Italian Reds, Pt. 2 – Sangiovese Castello di Fonteruloli in Chianti Classico embraces the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione category, producing not just one but three examples. They are all 100% Sangiovese, but each comes from a distinct terroir. One of those wines features here: Vicoregio 36. Fonterutoli is a place where the ancient sits comfortably …

Castello di Querceto – Chianti Classico Annata and Riserva

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability, Toscana

Querceto Coat of Arms

Castello di Querceto – Chianti Classico Annata and Riserva In January 2022, I wrote an article about two Chianti Classico wines from Castello di Querceto. These representatives of the top of the Chianti Classico quality pyramid were their 2018 vintage Gran Selezione wines, namely Il Picchio and La Corte. You can read about those here (including new updated prices and …

Poggio Valente by Fattoria Le Pupille

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana

Elisabetta Geppetti, Le Pupille

Poggio Valente by Fattoria Le Pupille Poggio Valente is one of those rare wines where just one glass made me want to visit Fattoria Le Pupille to find out more. So, some years ago I did, and I’ve followed its development from afar ever since. Given this, I can’t quite understand how I’ve not previously written about it. That’s especially …

Badia a Corte Riserva – Vinum Florentinum

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability, Toscana, Travel

Badia a Corte - Torre a Cona

Badia a Corte Riserva – Vinum Florentinum Take the old Via Roma (SP1) southeast from Florence towards Rignano sull’Arno. After only 10 km, you’ll find Torre a Cona, a magnificent 18th-century Renaissance estate. It makes wine and olive oil and now offers fine dining and hospitality. Torre a Cona is one of the best wine estates in the Chianti Colli …

VignaAlta, the flagship of Badia di Morrona

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana

Badia di Morrona VignaAlta

VignaAlta, the flagship of Badia di Morrona Badia di Morrona was featured in these pages last year with their I Sodi del Paretaio, a Chianti DOCG that comes in Annata and Riserva forms. You can read about those wines here. This article reviews their flagship wine, VignaAlta, a 100% Sangiovese designated as the up-and-coming Terre di Pisa DOC. Terre di Pisa DOC Wine …

WOTY 2022 – Wine Alchemy’s Wine of the Year

Paul HowardArticles, Biodynamic, Blog, Italy, Sustainability, Toscana

Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini, WOTY 2022

WOTY 202 – Wine Alchemy’s Wine of the Year The Wine of the Year (WOTY) 2022 award from Wine Alchemy goes to Tenuta di Ghizzano in Tuscany and its owner Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini. Joint winners – for the first time As is usual, any Wine Alchemy WOTY must be inspirational. Tasting great is a given. But in addition, the winning wine …

The Mimesi Project by Tenuta di Ghizzano

Paul HowardArticles, Biodynamic, Blog, Italy, Sustainability, Toscana

Tenuta di Ghizzano MImesi, Drunk Turtle Amphora

The Mimesi Project by Tenuta di Ghizzano Tenuta di Ghizzano has been featured on these pages before, with two superb classically-styled red wine blends called Nambrot and Veneroso.  Their new wine project is called Mimesi, where current owner Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini employs ancient natural wine practices in a modern context. As Confucius once said, “study the past if you want to …

Casisano 2016 – a mighty fine Brunello di Montalcino

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana, Wine Business

Tommasi Casisano 2016

Casisano 2016 – a mighty fine Brunello di Montalcino Brunello is one of Italy’s most prestigious wines and aspires to be the ultimate expression of Sangiovese. This DOCG, centred on the hill town of Montalcino, hosts considerable natural variation; in elevation, soil and aspects. Brunello’s stylistic hallmark is based upon long-maturation and subsequent longevity. In recent times, some producers have made …

Castello di Querceto and their Gran Selezione wines

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Sustainability, Toscana

Castello di Querceto

Castello di Querceto and their Gran Selezione wines Castello di Querceto was a founder member of the Chianti Classico consorzio, back in 1924. When heading south from Florence, Greve in Chianti is the first town on the Chiantigiana wine road and the gateway to the Classico region. Nearby is Castello di Querceto. This beautiful wine estate makes wines of high reputation, together …

MonteRosola, Emerging Tuscan Star

Paul HowardArticles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sustainability, Toscana

MonteRosola Estate, Autunno

MonteRosola, Emerging Tuscan Star MonteRosola is a contemporary winery in the hills close to the hilltop town of Volterra in Tuscany. Volterra may be less familiar to some, so let’s start there to understand how MonteRosola and its wines fit into this delightful Tuscan landscape. Volterra claims the title, “the oldest town in Tuscany.” Indeed, various peoples had continuously occupied …